Pets

We're a pet-friendly landlord.  In order to have a pet in your apartment, you'll need to consider the following:

Things to Consider

1. There is a maximum of two pets allowed in each apartment (an aquarium is considered one pet if it has five or less small animals in it).
2. We only allow two pets as long as neither pet exceeds 40lbs.
3. We don't allow any pets over 60 lbs.
4. We only accept spayed and neutered dogs and cats.
5. Dogs and cats must be rabies vaccinated and be properly licensed (see below).
6. Certain breeds of dogs and cats are dissalowed based on behavioral problems associated with the breed.
7. Only standard domestic pets will be allowed.  We do not allow any livestock or exotic animals.
8. Water-filled aquariums may not exceed 25 gallons, and will be accepted only on a case-by-case basis.
9. If you have a dog or cat you must carry a Renter's Insurance policy with at least $100,000 in animal bite liability.  With some breeds of dogs, you must also provide a letter from the agent on his/her letterhead that states the insured’s dog, by name and description, is specifically covered by the policy in force.
10. You will need to pay a $35-per-month pet rent. If you have two cats, the pet rent will be $50.
11. In some cases an additional Security Deposit will also be required.
12. If you are found to have an unregistered pet in the building, you will immediately be fined $150, and the pet may be banned forever with no exceptions!  So make sure to have the pet approved first before bringing it into your apartment.

Dogs and cats may not be allowed in any common hallway, entrance or common room without a leash.  At buildings with common back yards, pets may be unleashed, but may not be in the yard without supervision (this includes both dogs AND cats).  All waste must be immediately picked up by the owner (don't go into the yard without a poop bag!).  Do not allow pets to walk on or urinate on any plantings such as shrubs or flowers.  Violators will be heavily fined.

UNAUTHORIZED PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE BUILDING AT ANY TIME, not even for short visits!

Even if we do give you permission to have a pet in your apartment, we reserve the right to revoke permission at any time if the pet becomes a nusance to neighbors or the building through noise, smells or any other reason.  If we do revoke permission, the pet will need to be removed immediately.   Your Apartment Lease will not be affected, and you will still be responsible for all of the terms of the Lease.

The Process

STOP! Your pet may not be allowed to enter the building under any circumstances until this process is complete and you have received written permission from our office.

To begin the pet approval process, you'll need to fill out and sign a Pet Addendum and email it to your manager.  Make sure your pet meets all of the requirements outlined above.  The addendum must be filled out completely in order for us to consider approval.  For dogs and cats, you must also submit a picture of the pet, a certificate of spay or neuter, a rabies vaccination certificate and a valid pet license (see below).  Once we receive the completed addendum and supporting documents, we may request additional information from you prior to accepting the pet.  With dogs, this may include a physical inspection to determine the dog's personality.  If the pet is not a dog or a cat, please contact the apartment manager for more details on application requirements.

Dog Owners:  You will also have to provide proof of a binding Renter's Insurance policy with at least $100,000 in animal bite liability. 

Once your request has been approved and all fees and deposits have been paid, we will email you back the ratified pet addendum.  The pet may not be introduced to the building or the apartment under any circumstances until you have received the signed addendum back from us. 

Licensing (Baltimore City)

Dogs and cats must be licensed prior to approval. You must have your pet(s) vaccinated for rabies and provide the rabies vaccination certificate in order to apply for a license. For more information on applying for a license online or by mail, visit:

Baltimore City Animal Licensing

You may also apply for a license in person at the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) at 301 Stockholm St., Baltimore, MD 21230.

Spaying/Neutering

All dogs and cats over the age of three months are required to be spayed or neutered prior to being allowed into a Downtownian.com apartment, with no exceptions.  This is to prevent territorial scenting and/or spraying, as well as other aggressive behaviors which may result in damage to the apartment and/or injury to other residents and their pets.  To prove that the procedure has been done, you will be required to show either a letter or receipt from your veterinarian.

If your dog or cat is under the age of three months, a spay/neuter procedure may not be possible.  In this case, we will ask you to provide proof of a scheduled appointment for the procedure, to take place no later than 90 days from the date the pet has been introduced to the apartment.  You will also be charged a higher monthly pet rent of $75/mo until the procedure has taken place.  Once the procedure has taken place, you must provide us with proof immediately, and we will reduce the monthly pet rent to $25/mo.  If we do not receive proof of spay/neuter within three days of the date the procedure is scheduled to take place, we will ban the pet from the building forever.  

Disclaimer

Our pet policy, as with any other policy in this handbook, is subject to change at any time without notice. Any changes to this policy are immediately binding.